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PROVINCIAL 
GRAND  MASTER  OF  MASONS 

OF  AND  FOR  AMERICA 

FROM  JANUARY  14,  A.  D.  1771  TO 
MARCH  26,  A.  D.  1776 

HIS  LODGE  AND  TEMPLE 


BY 

HARRY  W.  GOWEN,  320 

AND  MEMBER  SONS  OF  THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION 
HALIFAX,  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Library 

OF  THE 

University  of  NortH  Carolina 

This  book  was  presented  by  the  family 
of  the  late 

KEMP  PLUMMER  BATTLE,  '49 

President  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina 
from  1876  to  1890 


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VINCIAL  GRAND  MASTER  OF 
SONS,  OF  AND   FOR  AMERICA 
| FROM  A.  L.  5771    TO  A.  L.  5776 
HIS  LODGE  AND  TEMPLE 


0 


HARRY  W.  GOWKN,  320 
ID  MEMBER  OF  THE  SONS  OF  THE  AMERICAN 
REVOLUTION 
HALIFAX,  NO.  CAROLINA 


WHICH  HAS   INSPIRED  THIS  WORK,   IT  IS 
REVERENTLY   DEDICATED 


COPYRIGHT  I907,  BY 

HARRY  W.  GOWEN 

HALIFAX,  NO.  CAROLINA 


*• JOSEPH   MONTFORT   was  born   in 

(~\  H  England  in  1724,  of  noble  lineage,  and 
fe  fl*  was  made  a  Mason  in  England  before 
^^^  sailing  for  America,  where  he  settled 
in  Halifax,  Province  of  North  Carolina,  which 
was  then  one  of  the  most  important  and  flourish- 
ing places  in  the  South,  being  at  the  head  of  navi- 
gation of  Roanoke  River.  Here,  was  held  the 
Provincial  Congress,  and  here  was  printed  the 
Colonial  money.  He  was  a  man  of  great  promi- 
nence politically  and  socially  and  a  splendid 
orator.  He  began  at  once  upon  his  arrival  in 
America  to  promote  the  interests  of  Masonry,  as 
the  following  story  will  show. 

Joseph  Montfort  was  closely  connected  with 
Royal  White  Hart  Lodge  from  the  time  of  his 
arrival  at  Halifax,  N.  C,  until  the  time  of  his 
death.  The  first  record  we  have  of  a  meeting 
of  Royal  White  Hart  Lodge  is  on  April,  20th, 
1764,  which  was  held  at  the  house  of  David  Lon- 
don in  the  town  of  Halifax,  Province  of  North 
Carolina.  Joseph  Montfort  was  present  at  this 
meeting.  At  this  time  there  were  two  Masonic 
Lodges  in  Halifax,  Royal  White  Hart  Lodge  was 
then  working  under  a  dispensation,  and  it  is  evi- 
dent from  the  size  of  the  Lodge  and  the  amount 
of  its  funds,  that  it  had  been  in  existence  for 
many  years.  In  1765,  we  have  a  record  of  a 
meeting  in  which  a  committee  was  appointed 
"with  full  power  to  settle  and  make  division  of 
all  moneys  or  matters  belonging  to  the  former 
"""  White  Hart  Lodge,  and  to  settle  the  proportions 
r^  due  to  each  lodge  on  such  terms  as  they  should 
deem  just  and  equitable  and  report  their  proceed- 
ings to  the  next  sitting  here." 


From  1764  until  1772  and  from  1783  to  the 
present  day  there  is  an  unbroken  record  of  the 
meetings  of  Royal  White  Hart  Lodge,  but  from 
1772  until  1783  the  records  are  missing.  It  is 
believed  that  these  records  were  carried  home 
by  some  member  for  safe  keeping  during  the 
Revolutionary  War  period,  and  diligent  search 
is  now  being  made  for  them  in  the  old  Colonial 
mansions  of  Eastern  North  Carolina. 

On  May  20th,  1768,  an  important  meeting  of 
Royal  White  Hart  Lodge  was  held.  "Present: 
Joseph  Montfort,  Master;  James  Milner,  Sr. 
Warden;  Andrew  Miller,  Jr.  Warden;  John 
Thompson,  Treasurer;  Matthew  Brown,  Secre- 
tary; William  Martin,  one  of  the  Stewards; 
Joseph  Long,  Peter  Thompson,  John  Martin, 
David  Stokes,  Charles  Pasteur,  John  Geddy  and 
James  Auld,  memebers."  "The  lodge  being  opened 
in  ample  form,  the  Worshipful  Master  produced 
a  charter  from  the  Grand  Master  of  England, 
to-wit:  Henry  Somerset,  Duke  of  Beaufort  and 
Grand  Master  of  Masons  in  England,  appointing 
the  above  named  Joseph  Montfort,  Master,  Joseph 
Long,  Sr.  Warden  and  Matthew  Brown,  Jr.  War- 
den, a  regular  constituted  lodge  of  free  and  ac- 
cepted Masons  by  the  name  of  Royal  White  Hart 
Lodge  at  the  town  of  Halifax  and  Province  of 
North  Carolina,  the  same  bearing  date  at  London 
the  21st  of  March  A.  L.  5767,  the  same  being 
No.  403  in  the  list  of  English  lodges,  regular  con- 
stituted, upon  which  the  question  was  put  whether 
the  same  should  be  admitted  and  it  was  then 
unanimously  and  gratefully  received,  and  it  was 
ordered  that  the  Secretary  write  a  letter  to  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  England,  returning  thanks  for 
the   honor   which    the    Grand   Master   had   been 


pleased  to  confer  on  them.  Then,  in  order  that 
the  lodge  should  be  opened  agreeable  to  the  said 
Charter,  this  Lodge  was  closed."  Signed,  Joseph 
Montfort,  Master. 

It  is  noticeable  that  all  the  old  minutes  of  the 
meetings  were  signed  by  the  Worshipful  Master, 
and  the  utmost  care  was  taken  in  their  prepara- 
tion. Among  the  by-laws,  we  read:  "To  laugh 
in  Lodge,  fine  Five  Shillings,"  "To  whisper  in 
Lodge,  fine  Five  Shillings." 

In  April  1769,  a  meeting  of  Royal  White  Hart 
Lodge  was  held,  at  which  it  was  resolved  to 
build  the  Masonic  Temple  at  Halifax  and  the  fol- 
lowing are  a  part  of  the  fascinating  minutes  of 
that  meeting:  "Whereas  we,  the  subscribers  es- 
teem it  publicly  beneficial  to  promote  society  and 
laudably  to  increase  the  means  of  obtaining  bene- 
fit and  happiness  to  those  whom  we  are  most 
nearly  connected,  and  whereas  it  is  proposed  and 
agreed  to  improve  a  lot  in  the  town  of  Halifax, 
to  wit:  No.  in,  so  that  the  accommodation 
thereon  may  serve  for  various  purposes,  particu- 
larly that  of  a  Masonic  Hall  and  Assembly  room, 
we  therefore  obligate  ourselves,  our  Heirs,  Ex- 
ecutors and  Administrators  respectively,  to  pay 
or  cause  to  be  paid  on  demand,  to  John  Thomp- 
son, Esq.,  his  Executors  or  Administrators,  the 
sums  annexed  to  our  respective  names,  for  the 
purpose  of  improving  the  said  lot,  he  with  the 
approbation  of  the  Royal  White  Hart  Lodge  shall 
think  proper.  Joseph  Montfort,  a  lot  and  house, 
deed  executed.  Andrew  Miller,  ten  pounds,  J. 
O.  Long,  ten  pounds,  Frederic  Schulzer,  ten 
pounds,  John  Thompson,  ten  pounds,  Alexander 
Telfair,  ten  pounds,  James  Milner,  ten  pounds, 
Charles    Presten,   five   pounds,    William   Martin, 

5 


five  pounds,  F.  Stewart,  ten  pounds,  David  Stokes, 
five  pounds,  Peter  Thompson,  five  pounds,  Joseph 
Campbell,  five  pounds,  James  Auld,  three  pounds." 
We  now  know  that  the  house  and  lot  which  was 
given  by  Joseph  Montfort  was  at  that  date  worth 
$1,500.00,  therefore  at  this  one  meeting  was 
raised  the  sum  of  $2,000.00  for  the  purpose  of 
erecting  the  Masonic  Temple.  This  was  cer- 
tainly an  enormous  sum  for  those  poor  colonists 
to  subscribe  and  shows  their  intense  devotion  to 
the  cause  of  Masonry.  After  each  subscription 
on  the  record  is  written  the  word  "Paid". 
Surely  no  Mason  reading  this  splendid  subscrip- 
tion list  of  our  ancient  brothers  can  fail  to  be  in- 
spired to  contribute  liberally  to  the  building  of 
Masonic  Temples  or  Homes.  The  Temple  is 
square,  30  x  30,  two  stories.  The  lodge  room  is 
on  the  second  floor,  and  the  lower  story  they 
fitted  for  a  public  school  with  two  recitation 
rooms,  with  blackboards,  which  are  today  black 
and  glossy.  There  are  hundreds  of  school  rooms 
in  America  today  not  half  so  good;  although  the 
last  day  of  school  was  taught  in  this  temple  in 
1829. 

The  next  meeting  of  special  interest  was  held 
by  Royal  White  Hart  Lodge,  No.  403,  in  the  lodge 
room  at  Halifax  on  Friday,  March  13th,  1772. 
"Brother  Joseph  Montfort  visited  the  Lodge  and 
produced  a  Charter  from  the  Grand  Master  of 
England,  the  Duke  of  Beaufort,  etc.,  dated  Janu- 
ary, 14th,  A.  L.  5771,  A.  D.,  1 771,  appointed  him 
Provincial  Grand  Master  of  America,  which  was 
recognized,  and  he  was  accordingly  congratulated 
by  the  Lodge  and  offered  the  Chair,  which  he 
declined."  For  the  third  time  we  see  this  notable 
figure  entering  this  grand  old  lodge :  First,  with 
6 


the  charter  from  the  Grand  Lodge  of  England; 
Secondly,  generously  giving  to  Royal  White  Hart 
Lodge,  a  house  and  lot  worth  $1,500.00  towards 
the  erection  of  the  Masonic  Temple,  and  now  en- 
tering the  lodge  with  his  appointment  as  Grand 
Master  of  and  for  America  and  in  his  modesty, 
declining  even  a  seat  in  the  East. 

Joseph  Montfort,  besides  being  the  most  promi- 
nent figure  in  Masonry  in  America  at  this  time, 
was  also  the  first  Clerk  of  Court  of  Halifax 
County,  Treasurer  of  the  Province  of  North 
Carolina,  Colonel  of  Colonial  Troops  and  dele- 
gate from  Halifax  to  the  Provincial  Congress. 
He  was  also  the  father  of  Mrs.  Willie  Jones, 
wife  of  the  Revolutionary  Statesman,  Willie 
Jones,  a  man  educated  in  European  universities 
and  of  great  wealth,  owning  many  large  planta- 
tions and  so  many  slaves  that  it  was  said  of  him 
"he  didn't  know  his  own  niggers."  His  mansion, 
which  is  to-day  grand  even  as  a  ruin,  was  built 
ready  for  setting  up  in  England,  shipped  to  Ameri- 
ca and  erected  on  a  sightly  elevation  in  a  beautiful 
grove  in  Halifax  and  christened  by  him  "The 
Groves."  He  was  an  infidel  and  composed  the 
following  inscription  for  the  tomb  of  his  little 
daughter,  Mary  Montfort  Jones,  who  died  on 
June  29th,  1 781,  and  whose  grave  is  but  a  few 
yards  from  the  mansion : 

"Venus  gave  all  the  Graces,   Pallas   formed  the 

mind 
With  rival  art  to  make  the  first  of  womankind. 
Jove  of  the  wondrous  work  too  soon  enamoured 

grown, 
Sent  the  stern  tyrant  Death,  and  claimed  her  for 

his  own 


The  spirit  soared  to  Jove,  the  fine  cold  senseless 

clay, 
Shined  in  spight  of  Death,  as  bright  as  Orient 

day." 


It  was  the  custom  of  Willie  Jones  to  take  his 
family  to  Virginia  in  summer  and  in  1772  he 
became  acquainted  while  there  with  a  young 
Scotchman  who  became  a  great  friend  of  both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  and  accepted  their  invitation 
to  return  with  them  to  "The  Groves"  where  for 
the  next  three  years  he  spent  much  time  as  an 
honored  guest. 

The  war  clouds  of  the  Revolution  were  hover- 
ing on  the  horizon  at  this  time  and  his  great  de- 
sire was  to  receive  an  appointment  in  the  Ameri- 
can navy — navy  in  name  only — and  this  desire 
Willie  Jones  determined  to  gratify,  using  his 
great  influence  with  the  statesmen  of  that  day, 
particularly  with  Hon.  Jos.  Hewes,  he  secured 
him  an  appointment  as  Lieutenant.  To  reward 
this  noble  family  in  some  measure  for  this  ser- 
vice and  their  generous  hospitality,  he  deter- 
mined to  adopt  their  name,  to  carry  it  forth  to 
war  in  defence  of  their  country  and  surround  it 
with  a  halo  of  eternal  glory,  and,  so  before  a 
brilliant  company  in  the  magnificent  ball  room 
of  "The  Groves"  John  Paul  announced  to  the 
assemblage  that  he  would  henceforth  be  known 
as  John  Paul  Jones,  and  the  tradition  has  been 
handed  down  from  brother  to  brother  in  Royal 
White  Hart  Lodge  that  the  presentation  of  the 
beautiful  sword  given  him  by  the  Jones  family 
on  that  occasion, '(now  in  the  library  of  the  navy 
in  Washington)  was  made  by  Joseph  Montfort. 
Who  shall  doubt  that  his  devoted  son-in-law 
8 


called  upon  this  distinguished  orator  to  perform 
this  service. 

John  Paul  Jones  was  made  a  Mason  in  Scot- 
land in  1770.  He  was  a  frequent  visitor  at 
Fredericksburg  Lodge  No.  4,  Fredericksburg,  Va., 
of  which  George  Washington  was  then  a  mem- 
ber. He  went  from  Halifax  to  Portsmouth,  N. 
H.,  to  fit  out  "The  Ranger"  and  there  visited  St. 
John's  Lodge,  No.  1,  afterward  uniting  with  the 
"Three  Sisters  Lodge"  in  Paris,  of  which  Benja- 
min Franklin  was  also  a  member.  As  I  have 
told  you,  the  records  of  Royal  White  Hart  Lodge 
at  this  period  are  lost,  except  one  record  in  1774 
of  no  importance,  but  they  must  have  met  regu- 
larly as  Masonry  was  at  its  zenith  in  Halifax  at 
that  time,  and  if  these  lost  records  are  ever 
found  the  tradition  in  Royal  White  Hart  Lodge, 
that  John  Paul  Jones  was  a  frequent  visitor,  will 
certainly  be  proven  true,  as  he  visited  Masonic 
Lodges  wherever  he  went  and  his  intimate  asso- 
ciation with  Grand  Master  Montfort  gave  him 
every  incentive  to  visit  his  lodge.  John  Paul 
Jones  took  only  the  first  degree  in  Masonry  in 
Scotland,  in  Kilwining  Lodge,  No.  122  in  Kirken- 
bright,  Scotland,  the  fellowcraft  and  master  ma- 
son degrees  he  took  somewhere  in  America,  but 
when  or  in  what  lodge  is  unknown.  If  the  lost 
records  of  Royal  White  Hart  Lodge  are  ever 
found,  I  believe  it  will  be  found  that  he  took 
them  here. 

Mrs.  Willie  Jones  lived  to  a  great  age  and  was 
visited  by  Lafayette  at  "The  Groves"  in  1824. 
Her  granddaughter,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Alston,  a  lady 
of  great  age  but  wonderfully  active,  highly  edu- 
cated and  thoroughly  versed  in  the  history  of  her 
ancestors  is  alive  to-day,  and  ready  to  refute  any 


and  all  stories  that  John  Paul  Jones  took  the 
name  Jones  for  any  other  reason  than  in  honor 
of  the  Jones  family  of  Halifax. 

Joseph  Montfort  died  on  the  25th  of  March, 
1776  while  the  Revolutionary  War  was  in  its 
early  stages.  He  was  but  fifty- two  years  old  at 
this  time,  and  being  an  ardent  patriot  and  colonel 
of  Colonial  troops,  would  have  no  doubt  been 
found  gallantly  supporting  Washington  had  he 
lived.  He  is  buried  in  the  old  Colonial  bury- 
ing ground  in  Halifax  on  the  left  of  the  church 
to  which  he  so  often  marshalled  his  lodge  in  a 
body  for  worship,  and  which  is  still  standing  as  a 
ruin. 

No  stone  marks  his  resting  place,  a  condition 
that  shall  not  long  exist.  Marshall  DeLancy 
Heywood  says  his  death  was  due  to  what  is  now 
known  as  appendicitis.  On  March  10th,  1772,  he 
attended  a  meeting  of  Royal  White  Hart  Lodge 
and  presented  the  lodge  with  a  beautiful  Masonic 
chart,  painted  on  heavy  cloth,  and  it  is  at  this 
chart  to-day  that  the  eyes  of  the  entered  appren- 
tice are  directed  in  Royal  White  Hart  Lodge. 
The  beautiful  silver  candlesticks  used  by  this 
lodge  were  purchased  on  Feb.  26th,  1784,  and  cost 
eleven  pounds.  The  magnificent  chair  was  pur- 
chased on  May,  20th,  1765.  Visiting  brothers  say 
that  we  have  the  finest  ballot  box  they  have  ever 
seen,  but  this  is  hardly  worth  mentioning,  being 
so  modern,  it  having  been  purchased  on  April  1st, 
1820.  March  19th,  1812,  Brother  Epps  of  Royal 
White  Hart  Lodge  carried  the  commission  of 
Joseph  Montfort  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  North 
Carolina  at  Raleigh  and  took  a  receipt  for  the 
same  from  the  Grand  Master,  Robert  Williams. 
The    closing    words    of    which    are    as    follows: 


"This  piece  of  parchment,  or  Charter,  I  receive 
as  a  loan  made  to  me  for  the  purpose  of  having 
it  entered  in  the  Archives  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
North  Carolina  and  Tennessee,  and  which  shall 
be  returned  to  the  Royal  White  Hart  Lodge  No. 
2,  whenever  the  same  shall  be  requested." 

(Signed)     "Robert  Williams" 

About  one  week  later,  March  27th,  1812,  Grand 
Master  Williams  wrote  a  letter  to  Royal  White 
Hart  Lodge,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy: 

"To  the  Officers  and  Members  of  Royal  White 

Hart  Lodge  No.  2,  Halifax,  N.  C. 
Right  Worshipful  Sirs  and  Brothers  : 

Lately  I  have  received  into  my  possession,  as  a 
loan,  a  commission  signed  by  Charles  Dillon, 
Deputy  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
England,  impressed  with  a  coat  of  arms  of  the 
Duke  of  Beaufort,  Grand  Master  thereof,  dated 
January  14th,  A.  L.  5771  A.  D.,  1771,  constituting 
and  appointing  Joseph  Montfort,  Esq.,  Provincial 
Grand  Master  of  America.  Brothers,  it  is  from 
this  authority  that  our  Grand  Lodge  now  holds 
the  tenure  of  its  sovereignty,  that  this  Provincial 
Grand  Master,  did  by  virtue  of  his  said  commis- 
sion, constitute  and  establish  lodges  in  his  then 
Majesty's  Provinces:  That  after  the  Revolution 
was  over,  these  regularly  constituted  lodges  met 
in  convention  at  Tarboro,  when  the  present 
Grand  Lodge  of  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee 
became  constituted  and  organized.  I  do  now,  in 
behalf  of  myself  and  our  Grand  Lodge  solicit  the 
Right  Wodshipful  White  Hart  Lodge  No.  2, 
Halifax,  that  they  would  be  so  good  as  to  sur- 
render the  possession  of  this  instrument  to  our 
Grand  Lodge,  as  it  is  the  original  Charter 
from  whence  we  are  all  deprived.  We  are  em- 
boldened to  ask  this  of  your  Right  Worshipful 
Body  as  the  possession  thereof  by  you  cannot  be 
supposed  in  any  manner  to  add  to  the  authority 
by  which  you  sit  and  perform  business.  The 
granting  of  this  request  by  you  will  be  gratefully 
acknowledged,  and  received  by  our  most  Wor- 


<m 


shipful    Grand   Lodge   and   particularly  by  your 
most  obedient  servant  and  brother, 

Robert  Williams. 
Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  North  Car- 
olina and  Tennessee." 

This  request  was  not  granted  by  Royal  White 
Hart  Lodge,  as  the  records  show,  but  the  above 
letter  will  show  how  priceless  a  document  this 
commission  is. 

The  second  charter  of  Royal  White  Hart  Lodge, 
under  which  it  works  to-day,  was  issued  by  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  North  Carolina  on  the  27th  day 
of  December,  A.  D.,  1800.  Royal  White  Hart 
Lodge  retained  its  English  allegiance  thirteen 
years  after  its  sister  lodges  were  working  under 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  North  Carolina,  because  it 
bought  and  paid  ten  pounds  for  a  charter  giving 
it  No.  1.  After  the  Grand  Lodge  received  the 
money,  they  changed  their  minds  and  wrote  out 
another  charter,  giving  Royal  White  Hart  Lodge, 
No.  2.  For  years  there  was  a  most  bitter  feeling 
in  regard  to  this  matter,  but  as  Royal  White 
Hart  Lodge  is  well  launched  on  its  second  cen- 
tury of  faithful  allegiance  to  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  North  Carolina,  far  be  it  the  intention  to  re- 
vive the  controversies  of  other  ages,  but  merely 
as  a  faithful  historian,  to  record  the  truth. 
Royal  White  Hart  Lodge  was  incorporated  in 
1800. 

Roanoke  Council,  No.  1  was  organized  in  Hali- 
fax on  the  13th  day  of  February  in  the  year  of 
Deposit  3821,  A.  R.  A.  M.  2521  A.  D.,  1821. 
Roanoke  Chapter  No.  1,  R.  A.  M.,  was  organized 
in  Halifax  in  1822.  Both  of  these  bodies  worked 
in  the  Masonic  Temple,  which  was  thoroughly 
fitted  up  for  chapter  work  when  it  was  built. 
12 


Grand  Master  Montfort  issued  charters  for 
Royal  Arch  Chapters  as  well  as  for  Blue 
Lodges.  He  issued  a  charter  for  a  Royal  Arch 
Chapter  on  April  13th,  1775,  at  Cabin  Point,  Va., 
and  it  seems  that  some  years  afterwards  the 
Grand  Lodge  at  Richmond  questioned  the  legal- 
ity of  the  charter  of  this  chapter  and  in  order  to 
satisfy  the  companions,  Mr.  Henry  Montfort  sent 
them  Joseph  Montfort's  commission,  which  was 
later  returned  with  the  following  letter : 

"Cabin  Point,  Va.,  May  15th,  1789. 
Worthy  Brothers  : 

As  a  safe  conveyance  of  papers  of  consequence 
from  this  place  to  Halifax  is  seldom  to  be  met 
with,  I  enclose  to  the  particular  care  of  Dr. 
John  I.  Amon,  your  Charter,  which  was  brought 
into  this  place  by  my  son  who  received  it  from 
Mr.  Henry  Montfort,  in  order  to  satisfy  the 
Grand  Lodge  at  Richmond  concerning  some 
doubts,  concerning  a  degree  of  Masonry  of  the 
Cabin  Point  Royal  Arch  Lodge,  which  proved 
perfectly  satisfactory.  In  the  name  of  our  lodge 
I  return  you  sincere  thanks  for  the  use  of  your 
Charter  and  wish  it  safe  to  hand. 
I  am  with  appreciative  esteem,  worthy  brother 
Your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

James  Belcher,  Sr. 
Master,  Cabin  Point,  Royal  Arch  Lodge." 

Brother  Belcher  called  this  a  Charter,  but  he 
refers  to  Joseph  Montfort's  Commission  as  Pro- 
vincial Grand  Master  of  America.  It  is  also 
worthy  of  note  that  he  signs  himself  "Master"  of 
a  Royal  Arch  Lodge,  while  today  his  title  of 
course  would  be  High  Priest  of  a  Royal  Arch 
Chapter.  Mr.  Henry  Montfort,  here  referred  to, 
was  the  only  son  of  Grand  Master  Montfort.  He 
was  a  prominent  Mason  and  member  of  the 
Grand   Lodge   of   North   Carolina.     He   married 

13 


Miss  Sarah  Edwards,  but  died  leaving  no 
decendants. 

There  are  many  amusing  instances  recorded  in 
the  old  records.  At  one  of  the  early  meetings  it 
was  voted  to  appoint  a  committee  of  one  to  fur- 
nish at  each  lodge  meeting  "One  gallon  each  of 
gin,  rum  and  brandy,  one  boiled  ham,  one  cheese 
and  some  crackers  to  be  charged  to  the  candidate 
for  the  night." 

The  members  of  this  lodge  were  deeply  relig- 
ious, observing  the  feast  days  regularly  and  on 
Sundays  attending  church  in  a  body.  Copies  of 
the  sermons  preached  to  them  at  church  and  at 
the  burial  of  their  Brothers  are  carefully  pre- 
served. 

It  was  the  custom  of  Joseph  Montfort  on  the 
feast  days  of  the  Saints  Johns  to  assemble  his  lodge 
in  the  temple  before  sunrise  and  he  had  notices 
printed  which  were  sent  to  each  member,  notify- 
ing him  to  be  at  the  temple  at  5  A.  M.  or  6  A.  M. 
according  to  the  season.  Several  of  these  printed 
notices  are  reverently  preserved  in  our  archives. 
He  would  proceed  to  open  his  lodge  until  he  came 
to  "The  Master's  Station,"  etc.,  when  the  opening 
stopped  and  a  brother  was  stationed  at  the  east 
window  to  signal  the  first  appearance  of  the  orb 
of  day,  and  as  the  sun  arose  over  the  Roanoke  at 
that  instant  so  arose  the  only  Grand  Master  that 
America  ever  had,  to  open  and  govern  the  only 
Grand  Lodge  of  America  that  ever  existed. 

It  is  true  that  the  Grand  Lodge  of  England 
which  was  organized  in  171 7,  had,  before  this 
time  appointed  many  provincial  Grand  Masters  in 
America,  but  they  were  all  appointed  for  some 
special  province  and  their  authority  was  limited 
to  the  province  for  which  they  were  appointed, 

14 


or  to  territory  where  no  other  Provincial  Grand 
Master  exercised  authority  and  they  were  all 
subject  to  the  Provincial  Grand  Master  for 
Foreign  Lodges  at  London,  an  appointee  of 
the  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
England.  The  Provincial  Grand  Master  for 
Foreign  Lodges  at  this  time  was  John  Devig- 
noles  and  not  Joseph  DeVinold,  as  a  Masonic 
Historian  has  recently  stated,  but  at  this  time 
America  was  becoming  great  and  important,  and 
Masonic  America  was  knocking  at  the  door  of 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  England  for  the  appointment 
of  a  Provincial  Grand  Master  of  America.  The 
Grand  Lodge  of  Boston,  known  at  Saint  Johns' 
Provincial  Grand  Lodge  urgently  sought  the 
honor  of  becoming  the  Grand  Lodge  of  America, 
but  only  succeeded  in  obtaining  authority  to 
establish  lodges  in  those  parts  of  America  where 
no  local  Provincial  Grand  Master  held  authority. 
Joseph  Montfort's  authority  was  absolute  and 
supreme  in  all  parts  of  America,  then  British 
possessions,  and  he  established  lodges  and  chap- 
ters within  the  jurisdiction  of  local  Grand  Mas- 
ters at  his  will  and  pleasure,  and  he  attained  the 
highest  Masonic  position  ever  held  by  any  man 
on  this  continent  when  he  received  his  apooin- 
ment  as  Grand  Master  of  and  for  America.  In 
1733  Henry  Price  of  Massachusetts  received  from 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  England  an  appointment  as 
Provincial  Grand  Master  of  New  England  and 
we  may  consider  him  the  second  highest  Mason- 
ic official  that  ever  held  sway  in  America  as  his 
jurisdiction  covered  what  are  now  the  six  New 
England  States.  A  beautiful  monument  marks 
his  grave  at  Townsend,  Mass.,  and  the  Masonic 
fraternity  of  America  very  justly  honor  his  mem- 

15 


ory  on  every  possible  occasion.  That  the  (?rand 
Master  of  America  to  whom  he  and  all  other 
local  Provincial  Grand  Masters  were  subordin- 
ate remains  unhonored  by  the  Masonic  Fraternity 
of  America  is,  I  am  certain,  due  to  ignorance  of 
his  exhaulted  position  and  distinguished  services, 
and  it  is  my  purpose  in  this  work  to  dispel  this 
ignorance  that  he  may  be  honored  and  revered 
as  he  deserves.  There  are  many  reasons  why  he 
was  selected  for  this  great  honor.  His  social 
and  political  prominence,  the  splendid  and  exact 
work  which  he  did,  his  prompt  and  regular  re- 
mittances to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  England,  which 
example  was  not  followed  to  any  extent  by  the 
majority  of  American  Masters  and  Lodges  at 
this  time  and  his  idea  of  building  a  Masonic 
Temple  which  was  absolutely  new,  both  in  Eng- 
land and  America,  made  a  deep  impression  upon 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  England  when  they  re- 
ceived the  report  and  it  undoubtedly  inspired 
them  to  build  Free  Mason's  Hall  in  London  for 
they  at  once  began  raising  funds  for  this 
purpose  and  four  years  later  completed  that 
structure.  Free  Masons  Lodge  erected  in  Phila- 
delphia by  Benjamin  Franklin  and  his  associates 
a  short  time  before,  §g/^gg^jjJBt^UM^^  on  the 
north  side  of  Chestnut  street,  between  7th  and 
8th  streets,  was  the  first  Masonic  Temple  to  be 
erected  in  America  or  in  the  world,  and  the 
Temple  at  Halifax  was  the  second.  Up  to 
this  time,  it  was  the  custom  of  the  Masonic 
Lodges  to  meet  in  taverns,  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  England  at  this  time  held  its  meetings  at 
the  Crown  and  Anchor  in  the  Strand,  London, 
and  until  the  erection  of  the  temple  at  Halifax, 
Royal  White  Hart  Lodge  met  at  "Brother 
16 

Phil*.  TemDlotorn  down  1801 


William  Martin's  Tavern  at  the  Sign  of  the 
Thistle."  Martin  had  a  forty  room  two  story 
hotel  and  fitted  them  up  a  lodge  room  in  the 
second  story  and  furnished  all  banquets  and  re- 
freshments. He  didn't  lose  any  money  by  the 
operation.  In  1766  the  Duke  of  Beaufort  was 
elected  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
England,  the  Province  of  North  Carolina  had 
honored  the  Duke  of  Beaufort  by  naming  a  city 
and  a  county,  Beaufort,  North  Carolina,  (where 
to-day,  the  United  States  government  has  the 
finest  Marine  Biological  laboratory  in  the  world,) 
and  in  this  fact,  we  find  another  reason  why 
Montfort  received  this  appointment,  the  Duke  of 
Beaufort  choosing  a  North  Carolina  man  for 
Provincial  Grand  Master  of  America  in  return 
for  this  honor.  It  is  easy  to  be  seen  why  Mont- 
fort was  the  last  as  well  as  the  first  Provincial 
Grand  Master  of  America.  The  Revolutionary 
War  completely  separating  the  two  countries, 
politically  and  Masonically.  This  Grand  Lodge  of 
America  should  be  revived.  The  Masonic  Fra- 
ternity of  the  United  States  are  entitled  to  the 
honor  of  a  Supreme  Grand  Lodge  of  America, 
which  should  be  composed  of  the  Grand  Masters 
of  the  Grand  Lodges  now  in  existence,  which 
Grand  Bodies  should,  of  course,  continue  their 
existence  under  allegiance  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
North  America  and  this  Grand  Lodge  should  en- 
force uniform  work  and  practices  in  every  lodge 
room. 

The  following  copy  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  England  on  February  6,  1771, 
will  doubtless  be  of  interest.  This  report  was 
mailed  in  London  to  Joseph  Montfort  at  Halifax, 
North  Carolina  and  all  the  English  Grand  Lodge 

17 


reports  during  this  period  were  regularly  mailed 
to  him  and  are  on  file  in  our  archives. 

"At  a  quarterly  communication  of  the  Most 
Ancient  and  Honorable  Society  of  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons  under  the  Constitution  of  Eng- 
land, the  Most  Noble  Prince  Henry  Somerset, 
Duke  of  Beaufort,  etc.,  Grand  Master,  held  at 
the  Crown  and  Anchor  in  the  Strand,  February 
6th,  1771.  Present:  The  Hon.  R.  W.  Chas.  Dil- 
lon, Esq.,  D.  G.  M.  as  G.  M. ;  Rowland  Holt,  Esq., 
S.  G.  W.  as  D.  G.  M.;  Sir  Watkyn  Williams 
Wynne  Bart,  J.  G.  W.  as  S.  G.  W. ;  Chas.  Tay- 
lor, Esq.,  PJ.G.W.  as  J.G.W. ;  Mr.  Henry  Jaffray, 
P.  J.  G.  W.;  John  Allen,  Esq.,  Prov.  G.  M.  for 
Lancashire;  John  Devignoles,  Esq.,  Prov.  G.  M. 
for  Foreign  Lodges;  Rowland  Berkley,  G.  T. ; 
James  Haseltine,  G.  S. ;  William  Smith,  Grand 
Sword  Bearer;  and  the  Masters  and  Wardens 
of  several  lodges,  when  the  following  contribu- 
tions were  paid  into  the  general  fund,  viz : 

Then  follows  a  list  of  fifty-five  subscriptions 
aggregating  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  pounds, 
the  largest  of  which  is  as  follows :  "Joseph  Mont- 
fort,  Esq.,  of  North  Carolina  ten  pounds  and  ten 
shillings."  This  was  Joseph  Montfort's  contribu- 
tion towards  the  building  of  Free  Mason's  Hall 
in  London,  as  the  funds  raised  during  these 
years  and  at  this  time  were  applied  to  that  pur- 
pose, and  the  Grand  Lodge  of  England  was  so- 
liciting subscriptions  from  Masons  all  over  the 
world. 

On  November  7,  1753,  Grand  Master  Montfort 
married  Priscilla  Hill,  daughter  of  Col.  Benja- 
min Hill  of  Nansemond  County,  Virginia.  They 
had  three  children,  Henry  Montfort,  his  only  son, 
Mary  who  married  Willie  Jones  and  Elizabeth 
who  married  Col.  John  Baptista  Ashe.  Refer- 
ence is  made  in  another  part  of  this  work  to  Hon. 
and  Mrs.  Willie  Jones. 

18 


In  the  summer  of  1776,  Halifax,  N.  C,  together 
with  the  balance  of  America  was  anxiously  await- 
ing the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence and  Royal  White  Hart  Lodge  arranged  for 
a  grand  celebration  of  the  event  as  soon  as  the 
news  should  reach  Halifax.  Grand  Master  Mont- 
fort  having  recently  been  admitted  to  the  Grand 
Lodge  above,  they  secured  the  services  of  Corne- 
lius Hartnett  whom  Joseph  Montfort  had  ap- 
pointed Deputy  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  America  as  orator  of  the  day.  Jo. 
Seawell  Jones  in  his  defence  of  North  Carolina 
says :  "At  miday  Cornelius  Hartnett  assended  a 
rostrum  which  had  been  erected  in  front  of  the 
Court  House,  and,  even  as  he  opened  the  scroll 
upon  which  were  written  the  immortal  words  of 
the  Declaration,  the  enthusiasm  of  the  immense 
crowd  broke  forth  in  one  loud  swell  of  rejoicing 
and  prayer.  The  reader  proceeded  to  his  task 
and  read  the  Declaration  to  the  mute  and  impas- 
sioned multitude  with  the  solemnity  of  an  appeal 
to  Heaven.  When  he  had  finished,  all  the  people 
shouted  with  joy,  and  the  cannon,  sounding  from 
fort  to  fort,  proclaimed  the  glorious  tidings  that 
all  the  Thirteen  Colonies  were  now  free  and  inde- 
pendent states.  The  soldiers  seized  Mr.  Hartnett 
and  bore  him  on  their  shoulders  through  the 
streets  of  the  town,  applauding  him  as  their 
champion  and  swearing  allegiance  to  the  instru- 
ment he  had  read." 

The  July,  1907  number  of  The  Journal  of 
American  History  published  at  Hartford,  Conn., 
referring  to  this  celebration  of  the  signing  of 
Declaration  of  Independence,  says :  "This  was  the 
first  celebration  of  this  event  held  in  America." 
The    priceless    records    of    this    Jamestown    of 

19 


American  Masonry  are  carefully  preserved  in 
the  vaults  of  the  Bank  of  Halifax  by  Brother 
Fletcher  H.  Gregory,  the  cashier.  Brother  Greg- 
ory's petition  for  membership  in  Royal  White 
Hart  Lodge  is  filed  with  that  of  his  father, 
grandfather  and  great  grandfather.  We  doubt 
if  there  is  another  man  in  America  who  can 
boast  of  such  a  Masonic  honor.  As  the  historian 
reverently  unfolded  these  records,  many  of 
which  had  lain  undisturbed  for  more  than  a  cen- 
tury, the  seasand,  with  which  the  ink  was 
sprinkled  ran  out  with  a  glad  musical  sound  say- 
ing :  "As  the  Lives  of  these  patriots  were  without 
blot,  without  blot  have  I  preserved  the  record  of 
their  deeds."  Here  met  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Amer- 
ica from  1772  to  the  death  of  the  Grand  Master. 
On  receiving  his  appointment,  as  Grand  Master, 
Montfort  appointed  as  subordinates  in  the  Grand 
Lodge  several  of  his  brethren  of  the  Royal  White 
Hart  Lodge;  Marshall  Delancy  Heywood  in  his 
splendid  work  "The  beginning  of  Freemasonry 
in  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee,"  records  the 
lives  of  the  members  of  this  Grand  Lodge  and 
the  great  services  they  rendered  the  American 
cause  during  the  Revolutionary  War.  At  the 
death  of  Grand  Master  Montfort  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  America  ceased  to  exist  although 
Deputy  Grand  Master  Cornelius  Hartnett  sought 
to  continue  that  body  and  assume  the  office  of 
Grand  Master,  but  the  subordinate  Grand  Lodges 
refused  to  recognize  his  authority  and  indeed  he 
possessed  none. 

These  old  brothers  were  very  careful  about 
admitting  visiting  brothers  as  many  instances 
show.  In  November,  1782,  one  James  Cole  Mont- 
florence  applied  for  examination  and  was  refused 


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admittance.  He  then  wrote  the  following  letter 
and  signs  his  name  with  great  flourishes  in  a  very 
flowery  style. 

"The  5th  day  of  the  nth  month  of  the 
Gentlemen:  Year  of  Light,  5782: 

I  cannot  but  have  been  exceedingly  effected  at 
not  being  introduced  in  the  temple,  and,  as  a 
Mason  (though  some  of  your  members  will  not 
acknowledge  me  as  such)  I  am  to  insist  on  your 
impropriety  of  refusing  me  admission.  It  is 
probable,  it  is  evident  that  your  manner  of  testing 
is  quite  different  to  that  in  use  in  France  and 
Italy,  but  as  I  am  sure  you  are  Masons,  having 
seen  your  charter,  I  must  desire  you  to  reflect 
that  the  three  fundimental  points  of  discovering 
the  initiated  are  by  the  sacred  word,  the  signs  and 
the  taking  of  the  hand.  Perhaps  my  expressions 
are  improper  in  English,  but  every  good  Mason 
will  certainly  understand  me,  neither  the  sacred 
word  nor  the  sign  have  been  required  from  me, 
and  these  two  tokens  I  insist  to  be  the  most 
essential  ones.  Masonry  is  and  ought  to  be  uni- 
versal, and  of  whatever  country  may  be  a  brother, 
he  has  undoubted  right  to  his  admission  in  the 
temple.  A  few  demands,  not  capital  ones  may 
be  introduced  in  the  initiations  of  each  lodge  by 
some  of  their  particular  regulations,  but  this  does 
not  constitute  a  Mason,  therefore  I  beg  you  will 
appoint  a  committee  of  some  of  your  brothers  to 
discourse  with  me  and  if  I  satisfy  them  in  the 
principal  parts,  I  insist,  you  cannot  as  Masons 
refuse  me  admission.  I,  offering  after  the  said 
examination  to  renew  my  oath  and  take  another 
of  my  having  been  initiated  in  a  lodge  regularly 
constituted. 

I  am,  gentlemen  (you  will  not  allow  me  the 
appellation  of  brother), 

Your  obedient  servant, 
James  Cole  Montflorence." 

On  January  30th,  1783,  no  less  a  personage  than 
the  Marquis  De  Britagney  visited  Royal  White 
Hart  Lodge,  and  addressed  the  brethren  request- 
21 


ing  that  Montflorence  be  re-examined,  and  a  com- 
mittee of  three  was  appointed  for  this  purpose, 
and  ordered  to  report  at  the  next  meeting.  On 
February  20th,  1783  they  reported  as  follows: 
"The  Committee  appointed  to  re-examine  Mr. 
Cole  Montflorence,  report  as  their  opinion  that  he 
ought  never  to  be  admitted  into  this  Lodge:" 
So  it  seems  that  neither  his  flowery  appeal  nor 
the  influence  of  nobility  could  swerve  these 
brothers  from  Masonic  duty,  from  all  of  which 
we  of  this  day  and  generation  may  learn  valuable 
lessons. 

"Hart"  is  spelled  in  the  old  records  "Heart," 
until  the  arrival  of  the  charter  from  England. 
In  this  charter  this  word  is  spelled  "Hart"  and 
from  this  time  on  all  the  records  conform  to  this 
spelling. 

It  is  proposed  as  soon  as  possible,  to  erect  a 
fire-proof  history  room,  where  the  interesting  old 
documents  of  this  temple  may  be  safely  shown  in 
glass  for  the  entertainment  of  visitors. 

Halifax,  North  Carolina  is  on  the  main  line  of 
the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad,  the  popular 
tourist  route  to  Florida,  eighty  miles  south  of 
Richmond,  Va.,  and  is  annually  visited  by  many 
patriotic  Masons. 

From  1764  until  1907,  Royal  White  Hart  Lodge 
has  had  but  thirty-one  Masters,  and  the  present 
popular  Master,  Brother  Charles  H.  Hale,  has 
faithfully  served  us  for  nearly  ten  years.  His 
cordial  southern  welcome  to  visiting  parties,  who 
come  to  do  reverence  at  this  shrine,  is  one  they 
do  not  soon  forget. 

During  the  early  years  of  the  records  a 
Brother  died  in  the  West  Indies,  and  by  his  will, 
left  a  slave,  a  negro  woman  to  Royal  White  Hart 
22 


Lodge.  The  Lodge  loaned  the  slave  to  Mrs. 
Taylor,  a  Mason's  widow  and  after  a  few  years 
appointed  a  committee  "To  recover  the  slave  and 
her  increase;"  but  whenever  the  committee  went 
after  the  woman,  Mrs.  Taylor  would  hide  her. 
The  chase  was  ineffectually  kept  up  for  a  few 
years,  finally  abandoned,  and  was  most  amusing. 

After  1790,  the  lodge  became  very  prosperous 
financially;  they  paid  five  dollars  per  pair  for 
gloves ;  ten  dollars  a  plate  for  banquets  and  gave 
pensions  of  twenty-five  dollars  a  month  to  needy 
widows;  surely  they  never  dreamed  of  the  com- 
ing railroad,  the  abandonment  of  river  traffic,  the 
decline  of  the  town  and  lodge  and  the  decay  of 
their  temple.  We  have  a  description  of  the  tem- 
ple written  in  1820,  when  it  was  in  a  perfect  state 
of  preservation;  the  roof  was  slate  color;  the 
building  white  with  green  blinds,  red  brick  chim- 
ney and  foundation,  and  mahogany  doors ;  the 
ceiling  of  the  lodge  room  (which  is  arched)  was 
blue;  the  wood  work  white,  excepting  the  doors, 
which  were  mahogany. 

We  shall  restore  the  temple  as  it  was  when 
erected.  Under  the  massive  oaks  which  sheltered 
alike  the  Colonial  and  British  armies,  by  the 
rolling  Roanoke  in  this  Ancient  Grand  East  of 
America,  sleeps  Joseph  Montfort;  but  he  shall 
again  return,  and  in  the  uniform  he  honored,  with 
the  Grand  Master's  jewel  upon  his  breast,  and 
with  uplifted  gavel,  in  imperishable  bronze,  he 
shall  forever  guard  his  restored  temple,  and  when 
the  words  are  spoken,  and  the  folds  of  the  starry 
banner  fall  asunder,  let  -every  Masonic  Grand 
Master  on  this  continent  do  himself  the  honor 
to  there  stand  uncovered  in  his  presence. 

Thus  saith  Cyrus,  King  of  Persia:  "All  the 
Kingdoms  of  the  Earth  hath  the  Lord  God  of 

23 


Heaven  given  me,  and  he  hath  charged 
build  him  an  House  in  Jerusalem,  whicl 
Judah.     Who  is  there  among  you  of  all  hj 
pie,  the  Lord  his  God  be  with  him,  and  1| 
go  up." 

So  mote 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00036704361 

FOR  USE  ONLY  IN 
THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLECTION 


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